Grandpa’s Use Only – Page 2

Sally’s Favorite Banana Bread Recipe

My Favorite Banana Bread

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.8 from 1713 reviews

Author: Sally McKenney
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 65 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours
Yield: 1 loaf

With its super-moist and buttery texture, banana and brown sugar flavors, soft crumb, and 1,000+ reviews, this is a delicious AND undeniably popular banana bread recipe. You need 4 large ripe bananas. This recipe is also in my cookbook, Sally’s Baking 101.

Ingredients

- 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup (8 Tbsp; 113g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
3/4 cup (150g) packed light or dark brown sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1/3 cup (80g) plain Greek yogurt or full-fat sour cream, at room temperature
1 and 1/2 cups (345g) mashed bananas (about 3–4 ripe bananas)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
optional: 3/4 cup (90g) chopped pecans or walnuts, or 1 cup (180g) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Adjust the oven rack to the lower third position and preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Lowering the oven rack prevents the top of your bread from browning too much, too soon. Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray. Set aside.

1. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon together. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and brown sugar together on medium-high speed until light and creamy, about 3 minutes. (Here’s a helpful tutorial if you need guidance on how to cream butter and sugar.) With the mixer running on medium speed, add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the yogurt, vanilla, and mashed bananas until combined.
3. Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and beat on low speed just until combined. Do not over-mix. Fold in the nuts/chocolate chips, if using. The batter should be thick.

Pour and spread the batter into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 60–65 minutes, making sure to loosely cover the pan with aluminum foil halfway through, to prevent the top from getting too brown. The bread is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean with only a few small moist crumbs. Cool the bread in the pan set on a cooling rack for 1 hour. Remove the bread from the pan and cool it directly on the rack until ready to slice and serve.
Store wrapped tightly at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Notes

1. Special Tools (affiliate links): 9×5-inch Loaf Pan | Electric Mixer (Handheld or Stand) | Glass Mixing Bowls | Whisk | Silicone Spatula | Cooling Rack
2. Update in 2025: With enough reader feedback stating the bread can often be too moist and dense, and therefore not bake properly, my team and I retested the bread multiple times over the past 2 years; we slightly reduced the amount of mashed bananas from 2 cups to 1 and 1/2 cups.
3. Butter: If needed, you can use salted butter in this recipe with no other changes needed. I’ve also successfully reduced the butter down to 6 Tablespoons (85g) with no issue (just as tasty).

1. Brown Sugar: This is not an overly sweet quick bread. If you want a sweeter banana bread, increase to 1 cup (200g) brown sugar. Feel free to replace some or all of the brown sugar with regular white granulated sugar.
2. Cream Cheese Frosting: This banana bread also tastes fantastic with cream cheese frosting on top! To make it, beat 4 ounces (112g) of softened cream cheese and 1/4 cup (60g) of softened unsalted butter together on medium speed until smooth. Beat in 1 cup (120g) of confectioners sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt until combined. Spread on cooled loaf.
3. Banana Bread Muffins: Use this banana bread recipe to make 15 banana bread muffins. Spoon the batter into a lined or greased muffin pan (fill each to the top with batter) and bake for 5 minutes at 425°F (218°C); then, keeping the muffins in the oven, reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (177°C). Bake for an additional 16–17 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. The total bake time for the banana bread muffins is about 21–23 minutes. The initial burst of hot air helps those muffins rise nice and tall! Or try my quick & easy banana muffins.

Brown Sugar: Feel free to substitute the same amount of regular white granulated sugar or coconut sugar. I do not recommend any liquid sweeteners.
No Sour Cream or Yogurt? Feel free to use 1/3 cup mashed banana (in addition to what is called for in the recipe), unsweetened applesauce, or even canned pumpkin puree.
Frozen Bananas: You can use frozen bananas here. Thaw the frozen bananas. Drain off any excess liquid, mash, then use as instructed in the recipe. See How to Freeze & Thaw Bananas for Baking. Try not to mash too much or else you’ll be left with banana-y liquid; some chunks are great.
Chocolate Chips: I love this bread with chocolate chips, too. Feel free to add 1 cup of your favorite chocolate chips. No need to leave out the nuts if you add the chocolate chips. Chocolate chips and nuts are both optional.
Can I Turn This Into Banana Bundt Cake? There isn’t enough batter. I recommend using my extremely similar, scaled-up recipe for chocolate marble banana Bundt cake instead. You can leave out the chocolate swirl in that recipe.

Find it online: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/best-banana-bread-recipe/

Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe for Beginners

Easy Homemade Pizza Dough

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.8 from 1013 reviews

Author: Sally McKenney
Prep Time: 2 hours, 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Yield: 2 12-inch pizzas

Follow these basic instructions for a thick, crisp, and chewy pizza crust at home. The recipe yields enough pizza dough for two 12-inch pizzas and you can freeze half of the dough for later. Close to 2 pounds of dough total. This recipe is also in my New York Times best-selling cookbook, Sally’s Baking 101.

Ingredients

Dough

1 and 1/3 cups (320ml) warm water (about 110°F/43°C)
1 Tablespoon (13g) granulated sugar
2 and 1/4 teaspoons (7g) Platinum Yeast from Red Star instant yeast (1 standard packet)*
3 and 1/2 to 4 cups (438–500g) unbleached all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled), plus more as needed
2 Tablespoons (30ml) extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for greasing
1 teaspoon salt
sprinkle of cornmeal, for dusting the pan

Toppings (halve these amounts if making just 1 pizza)

extra-virgin olive oil, for brushing
2 garlic cloves, minced (optional)
1 cup (250g) store-bought pizza sauce
4 cups (1lb/454g) shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

1. Whisk the warm water, granulated sugar, and yeast together in the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with a dough hook or paddle attachment. Cover and allow to rest for 5 minutes. *If you don’t have a stand mixer, simply use a large mixing bowl and mix the dough with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula in the next step.
2. Add the flour, olive oil, and salt. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl.

1. Knead the dough: Keep the dough in the mixer and beat for an additional 5 full minutes, or knead by hand on a lightly floured surface for 5 full minutes. (If you’re new to bread-baking, my How to Knead Dough video tutorial can help here.) If the dough becomes too sticky during the kneading process, sprinkle 1 teaspoon of flour at a time on the dough or on the work surface/in the bowl to make a soft, slightly tacky dough. Do not add more flour than you need because you do not want a dry dough. After kneading, the dough should still feel a little soft. Poke it with your finger—if it slowly bounces back, your dough is ready to rise. You can also do a “windowpane test” to see if your dough has been kneaded long enough: tear off a small (roughly golfball-size) piece of dough and gently stretch it out until it’s thin enough for light to pass through it. Hold it up to a window or light. Does light pass through the stretched dough without the dough tearing first? If so, your dough has been kneaded long enough and is ready to rise. If not, keep kneading until it passes the windowpane test.
2. Rise: Lightly grease a large bowl with oil or nonstick spray—just use the same bowl you used for the dough. Place the dough in the bowl, turning it to coat all sides in the oil. Cover the bowl with aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or a clean kitchen towel. Allow the dough to rise at room temperature for 60–90 minutes or until double in size. (Tip: For the warm environment on a particularly cold day, heat your oven to 150°F (66°C). Turn the oven off, place the dough inside, and keep the door slightly ajar. This will be a warm environment for your dough to rise. After about 30 minutes, close the oven door to trap the air inside with the rising dough. When it’s doubled in size, remove from the oven.)
3. Preheat oven to 475°F (246°C). Allow it to heat for at least 15–20 minutes as you shape the pizza. (If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven to preheat as well.) Lightly grease baking sheet or pizza pan with nonstick spray or olive oil. Sprinkle lightly with cornmeal, which gives the crust extra crunch and flavor.

Shape the dough: When the dough is ready, punch it down to release any air bubbles. Divide the dough in half. (If not making 2 pizzas, freeze half of the dough for another time. See freezing instructions below.) On a lightly floured work surface using lightly floured hands or rolling pin, gently flatten the dough into a disc. Place on prepared pan and, using lightly floured hands, stretch and flatten the disc into a 12-inch circle, about 1/2-inch thick. If the dough keeps shrinking back as you try to stretch it, stop what you’re doing, cover it lightly for 5–10 minutes, then try again. Once shaped into a 12-inch circle, lift the edge of the dough up to create a lip around the edges. I simply pinch the edges up to create the rim. If using a pizza stone, place the dough directly on baker’s peels dusted with cornmeal.
Cover dough lightly with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and allow to rest for a few minutes as you prepare your pizza toppings. I suggest pepperoni & green peppers or jalapeño slices, Hawaiian pizza, pesto pizza, spinach artichoke white pizza, or homemade BBQ chicken pizza.
Top & bake the pizza: Using your fingers, press dents into the surface of the dough to prevent bubbling. Lightly brush olive oil over the top of the crust. Sprinkle with minced garlic (if using), then spread on 1/2 cup (125g) pizza sauce, and top with 2 cups (227g) shredded mozzarella cheese. Top with any additional toppings of your choice and bake for 13–15 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.
Slice hot pizza and serve immediately. Cover leftover pizza tightly and store in the refrigerator.

Notes

1. Freezing Instructions: This recipe yields enough dough for two 12-inch pizzas, a little less than 2 pounds (900g) total. After the pizza dough rises and you divide the dough in half (step 5), you can freeze one of the balls of dough to make pizza at a later time. Or you can simply freeze both balls of dough separately. Lightly coat all sides of the dough ball(s) with nonstick spray or olive oil. Place the dough ball(s) into individual zipped-top bag(s) and seal tightly, squeezing out all the air. Freeze for up to 3 months. To thaw, place the frozen pizza dough in the refrigerator for about 8 hours or overnight. When ready to make pizza, remove the dough from the refrigerator and allow to rest for 1 hour on the counter. Preheat the oven and continue with step 5, punching down the dough to release air if needed.
2. Overnight/All Day Instructions: Prepare the dough through step 3, but allow the dough to rise for 8–12 hours in the refrigerator. (If it needs to be in the refrigerator for longer, use cooler water (about 70°F/21°C) in the dough, which will slow the dough’s rise and allow for more time.) The slow rise gives the pizza dough wonderful flavor! When ready, continue with step 4. If the dough didn’t quite double in size overnight, let it sit at room temperature for 30–45 minutes before punching down (step 5).
3. Special Tools (affiliate links): Stand Mixer or Large Mixing Bowl and Wooden Spoon or Silicone Spatula | Dough Scraper | Pizza Pan or Baking Sheet | Pastry Brush | Pizza Cutter
4. Yeast: Red Star Platinum yeast is an instant yeast. You can use active dry yeast instead. The rise time will be at least 90 minutes. Reference my Baking with Yeast Guide for answers to common yeast FAQs.

Pictured Pizza: This recipe yields 2 pizzas. For each, top with 1/2 cup pizza sauce, 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, pepperoni slices, thinly sliced green pepper or jalapeño, and a sprinkle of Italian seasoning blend or dried basil.

Recipe originally published on Sally’s Baking Addiction in 2013

Find it online: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/homemade-pizza-crust-recipe/

Easy Cinnamon Rolls From Scratch

Easy Cinnamon Rolls (from scratch)

4.7 from 945 reviews

Author: Sally McKenney
Prep Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours, 5 minutes
Yield: 10-12 rolls

These easy cinnamon rolls are perfect for yeast beginners because they only require 1 rise. You have a few options for toppings. The recipe below includes a simple cream cheese icing, but we also love these with the coffee icing or vanilla icing that’s included in the recipe Notes below.

Ingredients

Dough

2 and 3/4 cups (344g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled), plus more as needed
1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (180ml) whole milk
3 Tablespoons (43g) unsalted butter
2 and 1/4 teaspoons Platinum Yeast from Red Star or any instant yeast (1 standard packet)
1 large egg, at room temperature

Filling

3 Tablespoons (43g) unsalted butter, extra softened
1/3 cup (67g) packed light or dark brown sugar
1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon

Cream Cheese Icing

4 ounces (113g) full-fat block cream cheese, softened to room temperature
2 Tablespoons (28g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
2/3 cup (80g) confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Make the dough: Whisk the flour, sugar, and salt together in a large bowl. Set aside.
2. Combine the milk and butter together in a heatproof bowl. Microwave or use the stove and heat until the butter has melted and the mixture is warm to the touch (about 110°F/43°C, no higher). Whisk in the yeast until it has dissolved. Pour mixture into the dry ingredients, add the egg, and stir with a sturdy rubber spatula or wooden spoon OR use a stand mixer with a paddle attachment on medium speed. Mix until a soft dough forms.

1. Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface. Using floured hands, knead the dough for 3-5 minutes. You should have a smooth ball of dough. If the dough is super soft or sticky, you can add a little more flour. Place in a lightly greased bowl (I use non-stick spray), cover loosely, and let the dough rest for about 10 minutes as you get the filling ingredients ready.
2. Fill the rolls: After 10 minutes, roll the dough out in a 14×8-inch (36×20-cm) rectangle. Spread the softened butter on top. Mix together the cinnamon and brown sugar. Sprinkle it all over the dough. Roll up the dough to make a 14-inch log. Cut into 10–12 even rolls and arrange in a lightly greased 9- or 10-inch round cake pan, pie dish, or square baking pan.
3. Rise: Cover the pan with aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or a clean kitchen towel. Allow the rolls to rise in a relatively warm environment for 60–90 minutes or until double in size. (For a tiny reduction in rise time, see my answer to Where Should Dough Rise? in my Baking with Yeast Guide.)

Bake the rolls: After the rolls have doubled in size, preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake for 24–27 minutes, or until lightly browned. If you notice the tops are getting too brown too quickly, loosely tent the pan with aluminum foil and continue baking. If you want to be precise about their doneness, their internal temperature taken with an instant read thermometer should be around 195–200°F (91–93°C) when done. Remove pan from the oven and place pan on a wire rack as you make the icing. (You can also make the icing as the rolls bake.)
Make the icing: In a medium bowl using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, beat the cream cheese on high speed until smooth and creamy. Add the butter and beat until smooth and combined, then beat in the confectioners’ sugar and vanilla until combined. Using a knife or icing spatula, spread the icing over the warm rolls and serve immediately.
Cover leftover frosted or unfrosted rolls tightly and store at room temperature for a day or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Notes

1. Make Ahead Instructions: This dough can be made the night before through step 4. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest in the refrigerator overnight. The next morning, remove from the refrigerator and allow to rise in a warm environment, about 1 hour. Continue with step 6.

1. Make Ahead Instructions – Freezing: You can freeze the rolls for up to 3 months, and I recommend a few different methods. The first method is to freeze them after shaping, before they rise (before step 5). Thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then let rise for 1.5–2 hours at room temperature before baking. The second method is to par-bake the risen rolls for 10 minutes, let cool completely, then cover and freeze. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before baking. Finish baking at 375°F (190°C) for around 15 minutes. You can also freeze fully baked rolls. See How to Freeze Cinnamon Rolls for more details about all of these methods.
2. Special Tools (affiliate links): Electric Stand Mixer or Glass Mixing Bowl with Silicone Spatula/Wooden Spoon | Rolling Pin | 9- inch Round Cake Pan, 9-inch Pie Dish, or 9-inch Square Baking Pan | Instant Read Thermometer | Cooling Rack | Electric Mixer (Handheld or Stand) for icing | Icing Spatula
3. Yeast: I highly recommend instant yeast. If you only have active dry yeast, you can use that instead. Active dry and instant yeast can be used interchangeably in recipes (1:1). Active dry yeast has a moderate rate of rising and instant dry yeast has a faster rate of rising; active dry yeast will take longer to raise the dough.
4. Milk: This recipe used to call for 1/2 cup (120ml) milk and 1/4 cup (60ml) water. The rolls taste much richer using all milk, and that is what I recommend. Whole milk or even buttermilk are ideal for this dough. If needed, you can substitute 3/4 cup (180ml) lower-fat or nondairy milk.

Coffee Icing (or Vanilla Icing): Whisk 1 cup (120g) confectioners’ sugar, 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, and 2–3 Tablespoons (30–45ml) strong brewed coffee together until smooth. Or swap milk for coffee for regular vanilla icing. Drizzle over warm rolls.
Reference my Baking with Yeast Guide for answers to common yeast FAQs.

Find it online: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/easy-cinnamon-rolls-from-scratch/

Quick & Easy Banana Muffins

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.9 from 2088 reviews

Author: Sally McKenney
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 10-12 muffins

These banana muffins are soft, buttery, and spiced with cinnamon. They’re wonderful plain, but taste fantastic with 1 cup chopped walnuts or chocolate chips. You need 3 ripe bananas and a handful of basic kitchen ingredients.

Ingredients

- 1 and 1/2 cups (188g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 and 1/2 cups (345g) mashed bananas (about 4 medium or 3 large ripe bananas)
6 Tablespoons (85g) unsalted butter, melted (or melted coconut oil)
2/3 cup (135g) packed light or dark brown sugar (or coconut sugar)*
1 large egg, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 Tablespoons (30ml) milk*
optional: 1 cup chopped walnuts, pecans, or chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F (218°C). Spray a 12-count muffin pan with nonstick spray or use cupcake liners.

Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg together in a medium bowl. Set aside. In a large bowl or in the bowl of your stand mixer, mash the bananas. On medium speed, beat or whisk in the melted butter, brown sugar, egg, vanilla extract, and milk. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, then beat or whisk until combined. If adding nuts or chocolate chips, fold them in now. Batter will be thick.
Spoon the batter into liners, filling them all the way to the top. Bake for 5 minutes at 425°F, then, keeping the muffins in the oven, reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (177°C). Bake for an additional 16–18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. The total time these muffins take in the oven is about 21–23 minutes, give or take. (For mini muffins, bake 12–14 total minutes at 350°F (177°C).) Allow the muffins to cool for 5 minutes in the muffin pan, then transfer to a wire cooling rack to continue cooling.
Muffins stay fresh covered at room temperature for a few days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Notes

1. Make Ahead Instructions: For longer storage, freeze muffins for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then bring to room temperature or warm up in the microwave if desired.

1. Special Tools (affiliate links): 12-count Muffin Pan | Muffin Liners | Electric Mixer (Handheld or Stand) | Glass Mixing Bowls | Whisk | Cooling Rack
2. Why the initial high temperature? The hot burst of air will spring up the top of the muffin quickly, then the inside of the muffin can bake for the remainder of the time. This helps the muffins rise nice and tall.
3. Whole Wheat Flour: Feel free to substitute whole wheat flour for all-purpose flour or use a mix of both as long as you use 1 and 1/2 cups total. If using all whole wheat flour, add another Tablespoon (15ml) of milk.
4. Frozen Bananas: You can use frozen bananas here. Thaw the frozen bananas. Drain off any excess liquid, mash, then use as instructed in the recipe. See How to Freeze & Thaw Bananas for Baking.

Sugar: You can use 2/3 cup of packed brown sugar or coconut sugar. Or a mixture of these to yield 2/3 cup. If using 2/3 cup coconut sugar, the muffins won’t be as sweet. I find they taste best with 2/3 cup brown sugar or 1/3 cup of each. 2/3 cup of honey or pure maple syrup works too, though the muffins will taste a little more moist in the centers. I’m unsure about sugar substitutes, but let me know if you try any.
Milk: Use your favorite variety of dairy or nondairy milk.
Banana Bread: Here’s my favorite banana bread recipe. 🙂

Find it online: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/banana-muffins/

Easy Homemade Soft Pretzels

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.8 from 809 reviews

Author: Sally McKenney
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Yield: 12 pretzels

Description

This is one of the easiest ways to prepare homemade soft pretzels for beginners, and the results are extra delicious! The dough is a family recipe and only needs to rest for 10 to 30 minutes before shaping. The quick baking soda boil gives the pretzels their traditional flavor, and I do not recommend skipping it. This recipe is also in my New York Times best-selling cookbook, Sally’s Baking 101.

Ingredients

2 and 1/4 teaspoons (7g) instant or active dry yeast (1 standard packet)
1 Tablespoon brown sugar or granulated sugar
1 and 1/2 cups (360ml) warm water (around 100°F/38°C)
1 Tablespoon (14g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
1 teaspoon salt
3 and 3/4–4 cups (469–500g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled), plus more as needed
coarse salt, for topping

Baking Soda Bath (See Recipe Note)

1/2 cup (120g) baking soda
9 cups (2.13L) water

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

1. Whisk the yeast and sugar into warm water. Cover and allow to sit for 1 minute.
2. Whisk in the melted butter and salt. Add 3 cups (375g) of flour. Mix with a wooden spoon (or dough hook attachment if using a stand mixer) until combined. Add 3/4 cup (94g) more flour until the dough is slightly tacky and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. If it is still sticky, add up to 1/4 cup more (31g) flour, 1 Tablespoon at a time, as needed. Poke the dough with your finger—if it bounces back, it is ready to knead.

1. Knead the dough: Keep the dough in the mixer and beat for an additional 3 to 5 full minutes, or knead by hand on a lightly floured surface for 3 to 5 minutes. (If you’re new to bread-baking, my How to Knead Dough video tutorial can help here.) If the dough becomes too sticky during the kneading process, sprinkle 1 teaspoon of flour at a time on the dough or on the work surface/in the bowl to make a soft, slightly tacky dough. Do not add more flour than you need because you do not want a dry dough. After kneading, the dough should still feel a little soft. Poke it with your finger—if it slowly bounces back, your dough is ready to rise. You can also do a “windowpane test” to see if your dough has been kneaded long enough: tear off a small (roughly golfball-size) piece of dough and gently stretch it out until it’s thin enough for light to pass through it. Hold it up to a window or light. Does light pass through the stretched dough without the dough tearing first? If so, your dough has been kneaded long enough and is ready to rise. If not, keep kneading until it passes the windowpane test.
2. Shape the kneaded dough into a ball. Cover lightly with a towel and allow to rest for 10 to 30 minutes. (Meanwhile, I like to get the water + baking soda boiling as instructed in step 8.)
3. Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Silicone baking mats are highly recommended over parchment paper. If using parchment paper, lightly spray with nonstick spray or grease with butter. Set aside.
4. With a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut dough into 75g sections, which is about 1/3 cup of dough each.
5. Roll the dough into a 20–22-inch rope. Form a circle with the dough by bringing the 2 ends together at the top of the circle. Twist the ends together. Bring the twisted ends back down towards yourself and press them down to form a pretzel shape.

Bring baking soda and 9 cups of water to a boil in a large pot. Drop 1–2 pretzels into the boiling water for 20–30 seconds. Any longer than that and your pretzels will have a metallic taste. Using a slotted spatula, lift the pretzel out of the water and allow as much of the excess water to drip off. Place pretzel onto prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining pretzels. If desired, cover the boiled, unbaked pretzels with lightly oiled plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking (step 9).
Sprinkle the tops of the pretzels with coarse salt. Bake for 12–15 minutes or until dark golden brown.
Remove from the oven and, if desired, serve warm with spicy nacho cheese sauce.
Cover and store leftover pretzels at room temperature for up to 3 days. See Make Ahead & Freezing Instructions in recipe Notes below for more storage info. To reheat, microwave for a few seconds, or bake at 350°F (177°C) for 5 minutes.

►

Notes

1. Make Ahead & Freezing Instructions: If planning to freeze fully baked pretzels, do not top them with coarse salt before baking. Cool completely, then freeze in an airtight freezer-safe container or zip-top bag for up to 3 months. To reheat, brush frozen pretzels (no need to thaw) with water and sprinkle with coarse salt, then bake at 350°F (177°C) for 20 minutes or until warmed through, or microwave frozen pretzels until warm. The prepared pretzel dough can be covered and refrigerated for up to one day or frozen in an airtight container for 2–3 months. Thaw frozen dough in the refrigerator overnight. Refrigerated dough can be shaped into pretzels while still cold, but allow some extra time, about 1 hour, for the pretzels to puff up at room temperature before continuing with the baking soda bath and baking. You can also freeze the boiled, unbaked pretzels and here’s how: after boiling the pretzels in step 8, place them on a lightly greased parchment paper- or silicone baking mat-lined baking sheet. Freeze the pretzels for about 1 hour, then transfer them to an airtight freezer-safe container or zip-top bag (squeeze out as much air as possible from the bag before sealing) and freeze for up to 3 months. To bake, brush frozen pretzels (no need to thaw) with water and sprinkle with coarse salt, then bake at 400°F (204°C) for 15–20 minutes or until dark golden brown.
2. Special Tools (affiliate links): Electric Stand Mixer or Glass Mixing Bowl | Wooden Spoon | Baking Sheets | Silicone Baking Mats or Parchment Paper | Pizza Cutter | Large Pot (such as a Dutch oven)
3. Baking Soda Bath (Step 8): The baking soda bath is strongly recommended because it helps create that chewy texture and distinctive pretzel flavor. If skipping, brush the shaped and unbaked pretzels with a mixture of 1 beaten egg + 1 Tablespoon of dairy or nondairy milk. This is known as an egg wash. Sprinkle the brushed pretzels with salt. The egg wash will help the salt stick. If you don’t have an egg, simply brush with 2 Tablespoons of dairy or nondairy milk.

Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels: Skip the coarse salt topping (and skip the egg wash, see note above, if you aren’t doing the baking soda bath step). Bake as directed in step 9. Meanwhile, melt 4 Tablespoons (56g) of unsalted or salted butter. Brush the baked and warm pretzels with melted butter, then dip the tops into a mix of cinnamon and sugar. I usually use 3/4 cup (150g) of granulated sugar and 1 and 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. Cinnamon-sugar pretzels taste best the day they’re made because the melted butter topping causes them to become soggy after a few hours.
Reference my Baking with Yeast Guide for answers to common yeast FAQs.

Soft & Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Description

Soft and chewy with that trademark homemade flavor, these are the best soft and chewy oatmeal raisin cookies. Your family will love these easy oatmeal raisin cookies!

Instructions

1. Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream the softened butter and both sugars together on medium speed until smooth, about 3 minutes. (Here’s a helpful tutorial if you need guidance on how to cream butter and sugar.) Add the eggs and mix on high until combined, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. Add the vanilla and molasses and mix on high until combined. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt together. Add to the wet ingredients and mix on low until combined. Beat in the oats, raisins, and walnuts (if using) on low speed. Dough will be thick, yet very sticky. Chill the dough for 30-60 minutes in the refrigerator (do the full hour if you’re afraid of the cookies spreading too much). If chilling for longer (up to 2 days), allow to sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before rolling and baking.
Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.
Roll balls of dough (about 2 tablespoons of dough per cookie) and place 2 inches apart on the baking sheets. I recommend using a cookie scoop since the dough can be sticky. Bake for 12-14 minutes until lightly browned on the sides. The centers will look very soft and under-baked. Remove from the oven and let cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. The cookies will continue to “set” on the baking sheet during this time.

Notes

Make Ahead & Freezing Instructions: Cookies stay fresh covered at room temperature for up to 1 week. Baked cookies freeze well—up to three months. Unbaked cookie dough balls freeze well—up to three months. Bake frozen cookie dough balls for an extra minute, no need to thaw. Here’s how to freeze cookie dough.
Special Tools (affiliate links): Electric Mixer (Handheld or Stand) | Baking Sheets | Silicone Baking Mats or Parchment Paper | Cookie Scoop | Cooling Rack
Oats: For these oatmeal raisin cookies, I use old-fashioned whole oats. They provide the ultimate hearty, chewy, thick texture we love!
Eggs: Room temperature eggs preferred. Good rule of thumb: always use room temperature eggs when using room temperature butter.
Raisins: Soak your raisins in warm water for 10 minutes before using (blot very well to dry them) – this makes them nice and plump for your cookies.
Adapted from Loaded Oatmeal Cookies & Oatmeal Creme Pies. Recipe originally published on Sally’s Baking Addiction in 2014.

Easy Microwave Lemon Curd

from King Arthur – modifications by Grandpa

Ingredients

- 3 medium lemon, zested
- Plus juice to make 1 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup white sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 3 egg yolks
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly (not oil)

1. Gather the ingredients.
2. Whisk sugar, zest, butter, and half the juice and heat in a microwave.
3. Mix eggs in remaining lemon juice
4. Temper heated juice into the cool lemon juice/eggs
5. Return to microwave bowl
6. Microwave on high in 1-minute intervals, stirring after each interval
7. Once it starts to come together, reduce time down to 30 second intervals.
8. Continue until thick enough to coat the back of a metal spoon.
9. Pour into small sterile jars

Makes enough to fill 12 cupcake cups

Aroma Rice Cooker

Instructions

1 measure of rice – Rinsed well
1 measure of water for white
1.5 water for brown rice
1 tsp bullion
Press “Cook” button
AS SOON AS IT switches to warm, stir and time 15 minutes
Stir and unplug. It is done after 15 minutes.

Puff Bread aka Navajo Fry Bread

No yeast
India it is called Poori
Choctaw Fry Bread
Texas we call them Sopapilla
Zepulas
dough bellies
Pita
empanadas
Sopaipillas in Chile

250 ml hot water
300 gm flour
salt to taste

Mix, let cool, then knead.
Divide into 16 parts
Form into balls and flatten to 10 cm

In hot veg oil, fry 30-45 seconds
Flip and fry other side

Serve with honey

Conceptual Breakfast Pizza

I don’t like a lot of what they did, but conceptually, I like this a lot for a quick healthy dinner when I am tired.

MISC RECIPES FROM MY PHONE NOTES 1

Recipes
ROASTED CORN
Cut off 3 cobs
Squeeze off juice
Add 2 TBL mayo
2 TBL sour cream
2 TBL Cotija cheese
Salt
Chipotle chili powder
Zest and juice from one lime
Served room temperature or microwaved
Serve with chips

HARD BOILED DEVILED EGGS

Put 6 Cold eggs into pot of cold water
Put on a oven on high
As soon as it starts a rolling boil, put into ice cubes and turn it down to medium low
Let boil for 10 minutes, Stirring the eggs gently at three, six and eight minutes to Free center the yolks
Remove eggs and put in the icewater for 3 minutes
Peel while still barely warm under running water
Cut in half and separate the white from the yolks
If you have one, put the yolks through a potato ricer. Otherwise, just crush them up with a fork.
Add 2 tablespoons miracle whip or mayo
Add 1 teaspoon white vinegar
Add 1/2 teaspoon salt
Add 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard. Use dry mustard if the filling seems a little wet.
Mix all together

Add toppings
See list of possibilities

CHARLESTON CHEWY

One stick melted butter
One cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
One egg

Three-quarter cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
Sift together
Add wet ingredients to the dry
If desired mix in one half cup chopped pecans

Pour into buttered baking dish
Smooth as flat as possible
Put into oven preheated at 350°
Bake for 20 minutes
Let cool before cutting.

Optional: get a recipe for a hard chocolate topping

Green sauce.s%z5
One poblano
One Anaheim
Three tomatillos
Two serranos
Three jalapeños
Bake at 450° for 35 minutes
Add One bunch of cilantro chopped
One bunch of green onions chopped
Avocado
Lime
Vinegar
Purée into sauce

FRENCH ONION SOUP

Play save a Dahlia onion into 1/4 inch strips
Cook at low heat with 1/2 stick butter and a sprinkle of salt
Cover and Simmer for 1 1/2 hours
Stir occasionally

Add 1/2 cup of marsala wine or sweet wine
Add 2 cups chicken stock
Add 2 cups of beef broth
Slice low moisture part skim mozzarella into 1/4 inch slices
Cut Italian bread or Baguette isto thick slices, butter, and put under broiler until brown.
Spoon soup into tureens and place on baking sheet
Put mozzarella on top of toasted bread
Top with grated Gruyère
Return to broiler until cheese is brown and bubbly

Spinach Tortilla

This recipe is conceptual at this point.

For 12 Tortillas or 8 large tortillas

4 C Flour
1/2 TBL Baking Powder
1 tsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp Onion Powder
1 tsp Salt
1/2 C Sauteed Spinach (drained)
1 TBL EVOO
2 C Warm Heavy Cream

Step by Step

1. Combine and mix flour and baking powder.
2. Blend until completely blended – spinach, salt, and EVOO.
3. Mix in heavy cream
4. Add 3 C flour and mix
5. Pour 4th cup of dry flour onto slab and dump flour mixture onto dry flour
6. Knead until finger indent bounces back
7. Cover and let rise 20 minutes
8. Separate
  - Half, half, and then thirds for 12 smaller tortillas
  - Half, half, and then half for 8 larger tortillas
9. Cover and let rise 20 minutes
10. Roll flat and as thin as possible
11. Put in hot cast iron skillet until bubbles form (about 45 seconds)
12. Flip and cook another 30 seconds.

Homemade Spinach Tortillas

(Makes 6 tortillas – from The Conscious Plant Kitchen)

This recipe has excellent reviews with users saying they’re “absolutely delicious,” “so easy to make,” and that they’ve made them multiple times successfully.

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour (plus 1/4 cup for dusting/rolling)
3 cups baby spinach (lightly packed, washed and drained)
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup water
1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

In a food processor, add flour, washed/drained baby spinach, water, olive oil, and salt.
Process on medium-high speed until it forms a dough ball. If too wet, add extra flour. If too dry, add a splash of water.
Transfer dough to floured surface, sprinkle flour on top, and oil your hands. Knead the dough a few times until soft, elastic, and easy to roll.
Divide the dough into 6 equal balls.
Roll each ball on a floured surface with a rolling pin into a thin 7-8 inch wide by 1/8-inch thick flatbread.
Warm a non-stick pan over medium-high heat and cook each tortilla for 2 minutes or until dark spots form on the bottom. Flip and cook the other side for about 1 minute.
Stack cooked tortillas on a plate and cover with a kitchen towel to keep them soft and warm.

Storage: Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days, or freeze and thaw at room temperature before serving.

Notes: Users recommend adjusting flour as needed based on moisture from the spinach, and some suggest a quick high-heat fry with no oil to maintain flexibility when filling.

This recipe is quite similar to yours but uses less flour and includes the spinach directly in the food processor rather than sautéing it first!

No Refrigeration Needed

19 Items Professional Chefs Never Refrigerate

1. Ketchup

Ketchup is something I’m always surprised to see in the fridge. Who wants cold ketchup on their hot fries or burger? Its acidity level is high enough to prevent microbial growth, and its sugar content is also a preservative. Just keep it out of direct sunlight, and it should be fine.

2. Potatoes

Many fruits and vegetables benefit from being stored in the fridge, but spuds are an exception. In refrigeration, they convert some of their starches to sugars (a natural antifreeze), which messes with their flavor and texture. They need a couple of weeks after coming out of refrigeration before the sugars revert to starches, which drove me crazy when I was preparing hand-cut fries at my restaurants. Chilled potatoes brown too quickly, making the fries darker than desired.

3. Mayonnaise

This one may surprise you if you grew up on stories of people getting sick at picnics from foods containing mayonnaise, but it’s true. Store-bought mayonnaise is acidic enough to keep safely at room temperature. Don’t believe me? According to Hellmann’s (aka Best Foods), the top-selling mayonnaise company in the U.S., its product can be stored at room temperature for up to a month after opening, or two months in the refrigerator.

The problem is actually the foods you mix with the mayo. I buy mine in the big jar and use it to refill a squeeze bottle. I only ever reach into the jar with scrupulously clean utensils, so food never comes in contact with it.
Related:

Important note: This only applies to commercial mayonnaise. Your homemade mayonnaise is extremely perishable and requires proper refrigeration.

4. Mustard

Mustard, like ketchup, is a condiment with more than enough acidity to keep it food safe. This applies to plain old yellow “ballpark” mustard, the hot English style, Dijon mustard, or grainy deli-style mustard … whatever you’ve got, in other words.

5. Soy Sauce

I always have a bottle of soy sauce sitting on a shelf near my kitchen work area, and it never goes into the fridge. Its high salt content keeps it food safe, and I use it frequently enough that it never goes bad. (Soy sauce adds a great umami kick to anything you cook.) The same goes for my bottle of Worcestershire sauce that sits beside it.

6. Tomatoes

There are a lot of fruits that only ripen properly at room temperature, and tomatoes are one of them. (We eat them as a vegetable, but they’re technically fruit.) If you refrigerate tomatoes before they’re adequately ripened, their flavor is stunted and their texture suffers. You can refrigerate them once they’re fully ripe to prolong their freshness, but they’ll taste better if you let them come to room temperature before you eat them.

7. Hot Sauce

Hot sauce is another food that’s acidic enough to store sans refrigeration. It’ll last for months at room temperature, and its flavors will remain full and bold. After about six months, though, the hot sauce will finally begin to lose its potency. If you only bring out that bottle of Tabasco a couple of times a year for bloody marys, it’s probably best to refrigerate it.

8. Avocados

Scroll up a few lines to the section about tomatoes — that applies to avocados as well. They simply won’t ripen in the refrigerator, full stop. So leave them on the counter until they’re ripe, and then use them quickly. If you have more than you’ll use in a day or so, at that point, it’s OK to refrigerate the rest to keep them from progressing to the “eww, ick” stage.
Related:

9. Fresh Basil

Most fresh herbs will keep for a long time when stored in the fridge, but basil is an exception. Simply put it in a glass of water and place it on the countertop. (Trust me on this — I grow basil in my garden every year.) That’s why good supermarkets leave the herb out, often near the tomatoes, rather than put it in a refrigerated case.

10. Stone Fruit

Stone fruits, such as peaches, plums, and nectarines, fall into the same camp as avocados and tomatoes because they’ll never fully ripen if you pop them in the fridge. Instead, they’ll develop a mealy texture, which is not what you want at all. As with tomatoes and avocados, though, if you’ve cut into one and won’t finish it, it’s OK to refrigerate the remainder to prevent it from spoiling.

11. Nuts

I’ve personally gone both ways on this, because keeping nuts refrigerated does stop their natural oils from going rancid. Cooler temperatures mess with their flavor and texture, though, so I’ve gone back to buying only what I’ll use in a reasonable time frame and storing them in my pantry. An exception is the pine nuts I use to make pesto, which I buy in bulk and keep vacuum-sealed in my freezer between summers.

12. Chocolate

If you spring for some really good chocolate for baking or an occasional treat, you may be tempted to keep it in the fridge. Don’t do that. The cocoa butter in chocolate misbehaves at cold temperatures, giving it a disappointingly crumbly texture and powdery surface over time. The latter issue is known as “bloom,” and it’s just the cocoa butter coming to the surface, so don’t throw away your chocolate if you see it. It’s perfectly fine to eat and will melt away if you bake with it.

13. Coffee

Like chocolate, its frequent partner, coffee tastes best when not frozen or refrigerated. The chill dampens the volatile oils that give coffee its robust flavor, and going in and out of the fridge can cause condensation on the beans or ground coffee (especially in humid climates like mine). Condensation can lead to spoilage, which is pretty ironic in this context.

14. Apples

I live in apple-growing country, and my grandkids and I eat a lot of apples. OK, they eat the first few bites of a lot of apples, but the point remains the same. Apples are a naturally long-keeping fruit, and refrigeration can mute their flavors. Don’t do it unless the apples are cut up or getting past their prime.

15. Nutella and Peanut Butter

These spreads are also beloved by my grandkids, and both are perfectly fine (better, even) when they aren’t refrigerated. Mainstream peanut butter brands are packed with preservatives and will last months without issue. Natural peanut butter only needs refrigeration if you don’t eat it often. Chocolate and hazelnut Nutella, and its competitors, develop a weird texture if they’re refrigerated.

16. Honey

It would never occur to me to refrigerate honey, so I was quite surprised to learn that some people do. Sugar is a preservative, and honey is mostly sugar. It will last for centuries when sealed to keep out moisture, so relax and leave it in the pantry. Refrigeration also makes honey crystallize faster, making it a pain to get out of the bottle.

17. Cucumbers

For a lot of people I know, cukes go right from the shopping bag to the crisper drawer. That’s a bad idea because the cold, dry air of the refrigerator will make the cucumbers deteriorate pretty quickly. I’ve regularly kept my homegrown cukes on the counter for a couple of weeks without problems

18. Citrus Fruits

Citrus fruits are exceptionally versatile, making them a staple in many kitchens. Oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruit all keep really well at room temperature, and refrigeration tends to suck the moisture out of them pretty quickly. Leave the fruits out, perhaps in a hanging basket or concrete bowl, and only refrigerate them after they’re cut.

19. Fresh Peppers

We’ll finish with fresh peppers, another fruit masquerading as a vegetable. Like many others on this list, they will continue to ripen if you leave them on the counter, and that’s when their flavor and texture are best. This is true for both sweet and hot peppers. I refrigerate mine after I cut into them, or if I’m looking to preserve hot peppers’ “green” flavor and don’t want them to ripen and sweeten.

Substitutions to Lower Carbs

1. Cauliflower Rice Instead of White Rice

Cauliflower rice has 7 grams of carbs per 1/2 cup serving, compared to white rice with 22 grams. Additionally, cauliflower rice adds 3 grams of fiber to your meal, which can help keep you full for longer. Cauliflower makes for a great alternative to rice that is packed with nutrients and vitamins and saves you some carbs and calories. You can buy prechopped cauliflower rice frozen or fresh, or make your own at home with a food processor

2. Zucchini Noodles (Zoodles) or Spaghetti Squash for Pasta.

Spiralize zucchini or use spaghetti squash to create noodle alternatives for your favorite pasta dishes.

3. Portobello Mushrooms or Lettuce for Burger Buns.

Use large, grilled portobello mushroom caps or crisp lettuce leaves in place of high-carb buns to hold your burger patty.

4. Veggie Slices or Nuts/Seeds for Chips.

Snack on sliced carrots, bell peppers, or kale chips instead of potato chips. For added crunch in salads, use nuts and seeds as a substitute for croutons.

5. Cauliflower for Mashed Potatoes.

Boiled and mashed cauliflower is a creamy, low-carb alternative to traditional mashed potatoes.

6. Lettuce Leaves for Tortillas/Wraps.

Use large lettuce leaves to wrap fillings for tacos, burritos, or sandwiches, reducing the carb count significantly.

7. Kelp Noodles for Pasta or in Salads.

These noodles made from seaweed have very few net carbs and are a great, versatile substitute for pasta in stir-fries and salads.

8. Eggs for a Low-Carb Breakfast.

Eggs are a perfect low-carb, high-protein breakfast choice to replace sugary cereals, providing sustained fullness.

9. Chia Breakfast Pudding for Sweetened Oatmeal.

Oatmeal is a super-healthy breakfast food, but it’s always nice to have other options.

Per 1-cup serving, chia seed pudding contains 30 grams of carbohydrate compared with sweetened oatmeal’s 49 grams, many of which are from added sugar. Though chia seeds don’t have the whole grains of oatmeal, they pack a variety of their own unique health benefits. Chia seeds are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which help protect your heart, and antioxidants that prevent inflammation and chronic disease. To top it all off, one serving of this pudding boasts 10 grams of fiber, which is 40% of your recommended daily intake.

10. Sichuan Chicken Lettuce Wraps.

Lettuce Wrap for Bread. There’s a reason lettuce wraps are popular. You keep all the delicious filling, but get to cut out 12 grams of carbs.

A large lettuce leaf has only 1 gram of carbs and 5 calories and is a great option for people trying to cut calories in general. Lettuce has a high water content, so it’s a light, fresh alternative to bread to help keep you hydrated.

11. Zucchini Noodles for Linguine.

Zucchini noodles have 4 grams of carbs per cup, compared to traditional linguine with 35 grams. This is another tasty substitute for regular pasta for those who are gluten-free or counting carbs. Added bonus: zucchini noodles are quick to make from scratch and cook in just a few minutes. You can also find them pre-spiralized in the fresh produce section or freezer section of your store.

12. Flavored Seltzer for Soda.

It is probably not news to anyone that soda contains a lot of sugar and calories without much nutrition. The 41 grams of carbs found in a typical 12-ounce can of soda come from added sugar, and provide almost double the recommended daily limit for added sugar. Comparatively, seltzer has zero grams of carbs per 12-ounce can and zero calories as well. If you’re used to the sweetness of soda, try adding a splash of juice to your seltzer for more flavor. You can still get your bubbly fix in a low-carb way.

Substitute pure, distilled spirits for beer.

13. Vegetarian Spaghetti Squash Lasagna

Spaghetti squash lasagna has around 34 grams of carbs per serving (one quarter of a squash), which is substantially less than the 45 grams of carbs in classic lasagna. Spaghetti squash is fun to eat straight out of the skin, and the strands truly do resemble pasta noodles. This cheesy recipe is delicious twist on a classic.
Yogurt with Blueberries

14. Plain Yogurt with Fruit for Flavored Yogurt

At 13 grams of carbs per cup, plain yogurt with fruit added on top has just one-third the carbs of traditional fruit-flavored yogurt (47 grams per cup). Fruit gives you sweetness without the added sugar of fruit-flavored products. Additionally, fruit adds between 2 and 4 grams of fiber per 1/2 cup to help keep your stomach satisfied and your gut healthy.

15. Cauliflower Pizza Crust

This recipe for cauliflower pizza crust has 7 grams of carbs and 2 grams of fiber per slice compared to the 24 grams of carbs and zero grams of fiber in wheat crust. It also provides 75% of the Daily Value of vitamin C. Next time you’re having a pizza night, give this veggie-loaded alternative a try. If you buy your cauliflower pizza crust, just know that nutrition varies from brand to brand.

16. Spinach-Strawberry Salad with Feta & Walnuts – Sliced Nuts for Croutons

Nuts are a great, low-carb way to add crunch to a salad without adding croutons (which have about 7 grams of carbs per 1/4-cup serving). Most nuts have 1 to 2 grams of carbs per tablespoon (note the smaller serving size), saving you 5 grams per serving compared with croutons. Additionally, nuts are loaded with protein and healthy fat to give a nutritional boost to your salad. Toast nuts and add spices; you won’t even notice that the croutons are gone.

17. Baked Parmesan Zucchini Fries for Potato Fries

These delicious, cheesy zucchini fries have 18 grams of carbohydrates (per cup) while their potato counterparts have about 24 grams for the same-size serving. When the garden is overflowing with zucchini, it can be easy to get into a creative rut. If you are getting bored with zucchini noodles, try this crispy low-carb snack. These fries are coated in a bit of cornstarch and Parmesan to get a crispy coating.
lemon-pepper cucumbers

18. Cucumber Slices for Crackers: Saves 14 Grams of Carbs

Need a vehicle for dips, sauces or cheese, but looking to cut carbs? Look no further. A 1/2-cup serving of sliced cucumber has less than 2 grams carbs, which is a fraction of the carb content of traditional crackers (16 grams per 1/2 cup ). Many processed crackers are high in sodium too, whereas cucumbers are naturally low in sodium and high in potassium, which helps keep your blood pressure in check. Add a creamy dip or some cheese for a satisfying low-carb snack.
Cauliflower Mac & Cheese

19. Cauliflower Mac & Cheese for Mac & Cheese

OK, OK. Technically, this cauliflower “mac” doesn’t have any macaroni. But it does have all the saucy, cheesy goodness of mac and cheese with only 12 grams of carbohydrate per serving—compared to around 60 grams in a serving of traditional mac and cheese. As an added bonus, the cauliflower brings 87% of your Daily Value of vitamin C, which gives your immune system a boost.

20. Chickpea Flour for White Flour

If you follow a gluten-free diet, you may already be familiar with the idea of alternative flours. There are numerous non-wheat types and flavors, from chickpea flour to coconut flour to almond flour. Luckily, along with being gluten-free and high in protein, chickpea flour has only 27 grams of carbohydrates per 1/2 cup, compared to 48 grams per 1/2 cup of white flour. You can’t use it as a direct substitute for white flour, but try it out in socca and other recipes that call for chickpea flour.

21. Creamy Mashed Cauliflower for Mashed Potato

Even with 32 grams of carbs per serving, it can be hard to think of something delicious that could replace mashed potatoes. With only 10 grams of carbs per serving, this mashed cauliflower gets creamy and makes a pretty delicious potato substitute. It also has fewer calories and more protein and fiber than traditional mashed potatoes.

ALTERNATELY you can use oven-roasted celery root

22. Cauliflower Buns for Wheat Buns

These cauliflower buns contain only 8 grams of carbs compared to wheat buns with 26 grams of carbs. Like other cauliflower starch replacements, they are packed full of nutrition: this recipe, made with cheese, has 107% your Daily Value of vitamin C and 24% of your DV of calcium. Additionally, they can be made in less than an hour and stored in the freezer.

ALTERNATELY you can use low-carb, high-fiber crispbreads.

23. For candy, substitute 70% or higher cacao dark chocolate.

Dove Chocolates are quick and easy, and are limited in size alredy.

Bottom Line

To be clear, carbs are not inherently bad for your health—and our bodies (and brains especially) need carbs to function. However, if you are trying to cut out refined-grain foods, we have several ideas for low-carb swaps. Adding vegetables, nuts and legumes to your diet helps boost nutrients and fiber, which can help you lose weight, prevent chronic disease and feel fantastic.

Life Hacks – Very Cool!

Sweet Potato Flats

Here is a twist to sweet potatoes.

Instant Pot Pot Roast

This is a note gathering page. It has not yet been tested.

2 LB pot roast
1 large onion
olive oil
salt, pepper, onion, garlic, horseradish
potatoes
flour and butter

Sear the roast on all sides
Deglaze with 2 C stock, then add to instant pot
Season: salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, horseradish
High Pressure 20 minutes per pound. Slow release 15 minutes.
Remove roast, and add potatoes
Cook 5 minutes
Remove potatoes
Add 2 TBL flour mixed with 2 TBL butter
Add to 1 C broth and cook until thickened.

Cranberry Scones

https://www.foodnetwork.com/fnk/recipes/cranberry-scones-7578632?lid=p8lukh3lw6jd

https://www.foodnetwork.com/fnk/recipes/cranberry-scones-7578632?lid=p8lukh3lw6jd&nl=ROTD_091624_featurecta&lvrmp=530f2b989e1f6b5c144e6d3a994151a8194204efeb4e51ad8247124d905dd5d6

Spices thrown out – need to replace

Corriander
Bay ground
alspice
cinnamon stick
ground clove
oregano
marjoram
mustard seed
ground mustard
gochuchuang
pumpkin pie spice

Smash Burger

What Is a Smash Burger?

From AllRecipes.com

A smash burger is a burger that’s made by smashing two thin beef patties together with cheese in the middle. The act of pressing the burgers together over heat creates a perfect sear on the outside, ensuring juicy and flavorful results every time.

Cook’s Notes

Don’t use meat that is leaner than 80/20 for best results, and make sure the meat is very cold.
If you only have one spatula, wrap your other hand in an old dish towel for protection and use it to press down on the spatula with both hands.
You can make 4 (4-ounce) patties instead of 8 (2-ounce patties), but I prefer the thinner patties that have a more crispy surface area.
I buy American cheese freshly sliced from the deli, but individually wrapped slices will work, too.

How to Make a Smash Burger

You’ll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here’s a brief overview of what you can expect when you make homemade smash burgers:

Prepare and heat the griddle.
Butter and brown the buns.
Form the meat into loosely-packed balls.
Place each ball on the grill, cover with a piece of parchment, and smash.
Sprinkle the meat with salt.
Grill and assemble the smash burgers according to the detailed instructions below.

Test Kitchen Tips

Here are some smash burger tips from culinary expert Nicole McLaughlin (a.k.a. NicoleMcMom):

If you don’t have a flat top griddle, according to Nicole, a cast iron skillet will work perfectly.
Instead of buttering the buns, Nicole prefers to grease the buns with the drippings from the beef.
Nicole likes to keep her smash burgers simple with minimal toppings (pickles, mayonnaise, and onions), but you can dress your burgers up however you like

What to Serve With Smash Burgers

Explore our collection of Side Dishes for Burgers for tasty inspiration. Here are a few of the ideas you’ll find:

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

Ingredients

4 hamburger buns
2 tablespoons butter, softened, or as needed
1 pound ground chuck beef (80% lean)
4 (6-inch) squares parchment paper
salt to taste
4 slices American cheese
burger toppings of choice

Directions

Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat and lightly oil the grate. Set a cast iron flat-top griddle or large cast iron skillet onto the grill and preheat until smoking.
Spread butter on the inside of the buns and toast on the flat-top until lightly browned. Set aside.
Form meat into 8 loosely-packed balls, 2 ounces each. Do not pack the meat tightly, as this will prevent it from smashing properly. Place each ball on the hot flat-top, cover with a piece of parchment (to prevent sticking to the spatula; re-use each parchment square on a second patty) and immediately smash down to a 1/4 inch thickness using 2 stiff, sturdy spatulas that are criss-crossed to get proper leverage as you press down. You may also use the bottom of small skillet. Sprinkle the meat with salt.
Grill for about 45 seconds, until the edges are dark brown and the centers are a light pink color. Using a bench scraper or firm spatula, gently scrape up the patties, flip over and immediately cover 4 of them with cheese. Grill an additional 15 to 20 seconds; stack the plain patties over the cheese-covered patties so you have 4 stacks. Move each stack to a bun and serve with your favorite toppings.